Marcos Accepts Credentials Of New US Ambassador

United States Ambassador MaryKay Loss Carlson presented her credentials Friday, July 22, to President Marcos, under whose watch the Philippines intends to increase trade with the US.

“PBBM (Marcos) said we should have more trade, not aid from the US,” said Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez, referring to the remark Marcos made during a 45-minute meeting with Carlson, wherein the President cited the long historical ties between the two nations.

Romualdez added that Marcos also expressed his appreciation to the US for helping the Philippines procure COVID-19 vaccines.

The US envoy met with Marcos at Malacañang a day after her arrival in the country.

Carlson told Marcos that the US is ready to work with the Philippines in the areas of climate change, pandemic response, food security and the economy.

Romualdez said that Carlson reminded Marcos about the standing invitation of US President Joe Biden to visit the country, although no date has been set for the visit.

Marcos and Carlson did not tackle the West Philippine Sea dispute during their meeting but discussed both countries’ “strong security ties,” he added.

In her own Twitter post, Carlson announced that she personally appeared before the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to submit her documents.

“Let’s get started! I just presented my credentials to DFA Philippines and look forward to partnering with their team to explore the great opportunities for the US-Philippines bilateral relationship,” she wrote.

In her tweet, she described the US and the Philippines as friends, partners and allies.

She also expressed excitement to work with the US embassy in Manila and thanked interim Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava.

President Biden appointed Carlson to replace Sung Kim last May, with the US Senate confirming her appointment the same month.

A career member of the US senior foreign service, Carlson previously served as deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She also previously served as deputy chief of mission and chargé d’affaires in New Delhi, India, and as principal deputy executive secretary on the staff of the Secretary of State in Washington.

In a statement, the US embassy said it is pleased to welcome Carlson as the new ambassador to the Philippines.

“I am thrilled to be in the Philippines and honored to represent the United States in this important relationship. With the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia, we have a long history of shared sacrifice and incredibly close people-to-people ties. I look forward to working with the new government and our partners to upgrade and modernize our alliance to face new challenges, expand bilateral trade and investment and promote democratic freedoms and good governance,” Carlson said.

Apart from Carlson, Marcos also received the new ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines, Tull Traisorat, at Malacañang Friday, July 22.